‘Pastoral care for the sick and suffering’ course held in Dimapur

Dimapur, Sep. 23 (EMN): The 32nd National Annual Course on ‘Pastoral care for the sick and suffering’ organised by the Christian Medical Association of India (CMAI) concluded on Sat. Sep. 22 with at the Training Centre, Development Association of Nagaland, Chekiye village Dimapur.
CMAI is “a fellowship of Christian health professionals and health institutes serving the churches in the ministry of health, healing and wholeness”.
The two-week course, which commenced on Sep. 11, was participated by 28 pastors, missionaries and church workers from all over the country. The ‘pastoral care for the sick and suffering’ course is offered by the CMAI once in a year for church leaders and individuals ‘who have a heart for healing ministry’, stated a press statement from the association on Sunday.

“The course covered topics on basic skills of counseling, palliative care, community visits, bio ethics, healing ministry of the church, intercultural ministry etc.,” it stated.

Aier informed that the feedback from the participants were very encouraging. The release quoted one of the participants, Rev. Thomas Cheriyan form Jharkhand as summarising the whole course into three words: “disturbing, challenging and empowering.”

Another participant, Anungba Imsong, pastor at Medziphema Town Ao Baptist Church commented that the course was an enriching one and that he learnt the real meaning of counseling.

Major J Liankhama of the Salvation Army Church, Kohima said that every lesson and every class in the course was an enriching experience and that he was equipped to be a better counselor, preacher and teacher.

Pastor Ranga Seb of the Nagamese Baptist Church Dimapur said that the course was a great one to equip oneself to further equip others. Kewi from Covenant Baptist Church, Dimapur also commented that the course had been an enriching experience where she learned ‘basic but so relevant counseling skills’.

The participants of the course were also given certificates on the concluding day.
The resource persons for the course were: Rev. Dr. Ezzeckiel Shanthakumar (Director, Medical Counseling Association of India), Dr. Stanley C Macaden (national co-ordinator, CMAI), Dr. Sedevi Angami (Director, CIHSR), Dr. Atsung Aier (CIHSR), Dr. Rohan Michael (CIHSR), Dr. Rebeki Momin (CIHSR), Sr. Dr. Rosemary (CIHSR), Inaholi Asumi (CIHSR), Dr. Moa Imsong (counsellor, DABA), Moatemjen Jamir (Nehemiah India), Mang Ngaite (director, Home Fellowship Movement, Shillong), Seno Pongen (youth evangelist, KABA) and Sentilong Ozukum (civil servant, author), it stated.